The Oregon Faith Report - Faith News from Oregon

Why men need honor

Perhaps no character trait embodies healthy masculinity more than that of honor. Honor is the soul of masculinity. It is a code that a man lives by that lifts him above mere mediocrity and survival. It allows him to use the incredible power that God has endowed him with to lift the lives of others beyond what they could ever be without his broad shoulders to stand upon. Honor allows a man to stand tall among lesser members of his gender. It allows him to reject and ignore involvement in self-gratifying activities (like adultery, drugs, lying, or stealing) that sap his ability to live a life of integrity and wholeness. It motivates him to live his life to a higher standard.

Honorable men and honorable expectations teach boys to become honorable. Being surrounded by men of honor and immersed in an environment steeped in an honor code integrates this trait into a boy’s heart.

Teach your son he doesn’t have to be ashamed of being a male. So much of our culture’s messages are subliminal or even overt messages that are either unhealthy for males (stereotypes of aggressive thugs or womanizers) or speak the message that males are not good-that being a male is somehow bad just by virtue of his gender (men in TV sitcoms are almost universally portrayed as bumbling buffoons). Some factions of our culture even refer to boys as having “testosterone poisoning.” Teach your son that God created man in His image and gave him the power to influence lives for hundreds of years just by what he does or doesn’t do with that power. Tell him he matters-that as a father he is nearly irreplaceable in the lives of his children-they suffer mightily in his absence. Teach him that people he doesn’t even know about are constantly watching him to see how a man thinks, acts, solves problems, and faces life. Teach him that a real man lives a life of honor.